How to Get the Stormwater Best Management Practice Reimbursement Program
City of Polk City · Polk County, Des Moines metro, IA
What you get
Polk City reimburses property owners 50% of the cost of an approved stormwater practice, up to $1,000 annually. Eligible practices include bioretention cells, rain gardens, approved native plantings and landscaping, soil quality restoration, and permeable pavement. Rain barrels are capped separately at 50% or $75. The City issues a pre-approval letter before work begins, except for rain barrels, and practices must meet the design criteria in the Iowa Storm Water Management Manual. The $1,000 cap runs on the calendar year, and the City accepts applications year round (City of Polk City Public Works; administrator reply October 2026, last verified October 2026).
- Residential: 50% of project cost, up to $1,000 per year (rain barrels 50%, up to $75)
Are you eligible?
- Be a City of Polk City customer
- Property located in: Polk City
- Polk City property owner
- City pre-approval letter issued before work begins (not required for rain barrels)
- Itemized estimate of materials and services, plus a site map and project description
- Practice meets the design criteria in the Iowa Storm Water Management Manual
- Itemized invoices with proof of payment and a Public Works inspection after completion
Before you start
Do not remove turf or begin work before you have written approval. This program requires pre-approval. Starting early can disqualify the project even if everything else is correct.
Application window: Year round (the $1,000 cap resets each calendar year)
The application checklist
How to apply for the Stormwater Best Management Practice Reimbursement Program
These are the steps this application actually takes.
- 1
Check eligibility
Make sure you qualify with City of Polk City before you start.
- 2
Get pre-approval if required
Some programs require approval before any work begins. Check with City of Polk City and take before photos of the existing yard first.
- 3
Do the work
Complete the project, take before and after photos, and save every receipt.
- 4
Submit your application
Send City of Polk City the completed application with your photos and receipts, then watch for the confirmation.
Get help applying
Want a hand with the application?
A 30-minute call with Stephen, the founder. He reads the Stormwater Best Management Practice Reimbursement Program rules with you, tells you what to photograph and file first, and answers anything this page does not cover.
Confirm your project ZIP first. If this program does not serve your address, do not buy; check your city or utility on the rebates page instead.
One-time $29.99. Guidance, not filing: you submit to the program yourself. Not legal or financial advice. Rebate amounts and approval are decided by the program.
Every program listed cites its official source, and each program page shows the date we last verified it against that source. Program details change throughout the year, so always confirm requirements, amounts, and eligibility directly with the program before starting work. Pollinator Patch is not affiliated with any rebate program and does not guarantee approval.
See a problem with a program? Report it
Programs change throughout the year. If something here is out of date or wrong, tell us and we'll check it against the provider.
What people report after they apply
We ask people who filed Stormwater Best Management Practice Reimbursement Program whether it was approved, what they were paid, and how many days it took. A public payout time appears here only after 5 reports include a day count. Your dollar amount is stored and is not published on this page.